Node.js is a JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's V8 engine for building server-side applications. Why use it? Node.js offers fast performance and scalability, making it ideal for real-time applications and APIs. Best practices include using async/await, modularizing code, and using event-driven programming. Node.js was first released in 2009.

TypeScript is a superset of JavaScript that adds static types to the language. Why use it? TypeScript improves code quality by enabling type checking, autocompletion, and error detection during development. Best practices include using strict typing and leveraging TypeScript's powerful interfaces and generics. TypeScript was first released in 2012.

Next.js is a popular React framework for building server-side rendered and statically generated web applications. Why use it? Next.js simplifies React app development with built-in server-side rendering, static site generation, and API routes. Best practices include optimizing performance with static exporting and ensuring a good user experience on both client and server. Next.js was first released in 2016.

NestJS is a framework for building efficient, scalable Node.js server-side applications. Why use it? NestJS provides an extensible architecture, using TypeScript and modules to make it easy to scale and maintain large applications. Best practices include using decorators, dependency injection, and keeping business logic modular. NestJS was first released in 2017.

CRUD stands for Create, Read, Update, and Delete—the basic operations for managing data in applications. Why use it? CRUD operations are foundational to database management, allowing developers to create and manage records in a structured way. Best practices include using proper validation and error handling to ensure data integrity. CRUD has been a core concept since the early days of computing.

A monorepo is a software development strategy where all the code for multiple projects is stored in a single repository. Why use it? Monorepos enable easier code sharing, consistent dependency management, and simplified testing across projects. Best practices include using build tools like Bazel and maintaining modularity within the repo. Monorepos gained popularity in the 2010s.

React v16 is a major release of the popular JavaScript library React, used for building user interfaces. Why use it? React v16 introduced new features like the Fiber architecture, improved rendering, and error boundaries. Best practices include using functional components and hooks to take advantage of React’s features. React v16 was released in 2017.

Recoil is a state management library for React applications. Why use it? Recoil allows developers to manage state more efficiently in complex applications with minimal boilerplate code. Best practices include using atoms and selectors for managing and deriving state. Recoil was first released in 2020.

State management refers to the practice of managing and storing the state of an application in a central place. Why use it? State management ensures consistency across an application and enables smoother updates to the UI. Best practices include using state management libraries like Redux and MobX. State management has been a challenge in web development since the 2010s.

Definitely Typed is a repository of high-quality TypeScript type definitions for popular JavaScript libraries. Why use it? Definitely Typed enables TypeScript developers to use type definitions for JavaScript libraries, improving the developer experience. Best practices include adding type definitions for third-party libraries and using type-safe code. Definitely Typed was first launched in 2012.

Husky is a tool for managing Git hooks, allowing you to run scripts before or after certain Git commands. Why use it? Husky helps enforce code quality by running linters or tests before committing code. Best practices include using Husky for pre-commit hooks to automatically format and lint code. Husky was first released in 2017.

ESLint is a static code analysis tool for identifying and fixing problems in JavaScript code. Why use it? ESLint helps ensure consistent code quality by enforcing coding standards and catching errors early. Best practices include setting up a shared configuration for teams and using auto-fix features. ESLint was first released in 2013.

Separation of concerns (SoC) is a design principle for separating a computer program into distinct sections. Why use it? SoC promotes modularity, making code easier to maintain and understand. Best practices include keeping business logic separate from UI code and handling different concerns in isolated modules. SoC has been widely adopted in software engineering since the 1970s.

Lean Software Development (LSD) is a methodology that focuses on eliminating waste and improving efficiency in the software development process. Why use it? LSD helps teams deliver software faster by focusing on customer value and streamlining development workflows. Best practices include using iterative development cycles and frequent releases. Lean principles have been in use since the early 2000s.

Lean software development is a methodology focused on delivering value with minimal waste. Why use it? Lean helps improve efficiency, reduce cycle time, and deliver features based on customer needs. Best practices include focusing on delivering the highest-value features first and continuously improving processes. Lean software development originated in the early 2000s.

Functional programming is a programming paradigm that treats computation as the evaluation of mathematical functions. Why use it? Functional programming promotes immutability, higher-order functions, and declarative code, leading to cleaner, more predictable code. Best practices include avoiding side effects and using pure functions. Functional programming gained prominence in the 1950s.

Semantic versioning is a versioning scheme for software that conveys meaning about the changes. Why use it? Semantic versioning helps developers understand the impact of changes based on version numbers, aiding in compatibility management. Best practices include following semantic versioning rules strictly for releases. It was introduced in 2011.

Environment variables (often stored in .env files) are key-value pairs used to configure application settings. Why use it? They enable you to store sensitive data like API keys and configurations outside the codebase. Best practices include storing environment-specific configurations and using libraries like dotenv. Environment variables have been used for decades in software development.

Yarn is a package manager for JavaScript, designed to be faster, more secure, and more reliable than npm. Why use it? Yarn improves performance by caching dependencies and supports deterministic builds. Best practices include using Yarn for managing dependencies in large-scale projects. Yarn was first released in 2016.

Azure DevOps Pipelines is a cloud service that automates the building, testing, and deployment of applications. Why use it? It integrates with Azure services and supports multi-platform environments, improving continuous integration and deployment. Best practices include automating testing and deployment pipelines for faster delivery. Azure Pipelines was introduced in 2018.

D2Lang is a domain-specific language used for defining structured documents and diagrams. Why use it? D2Lang makes it easier to represent information visually, ideal for creating complex flowcharts or system designs. Best practices include using it for documentation and project visualization. D2Lang has been used since the early 2010s.

Architecture in software refers to the high-level structure of a software system. Why use it? Good software architecture ensures scalability, maintainability, and performance. Best practices include using design patterns, separating concerns, and ensuring modularity. Software architecture has been a focus since the 1960s.